New 190-bed hotel for Bath . . . but with a few reservations

Planning permission was granted for the redevelopment of Green Park House into a 190-room hotel two years ago.

The identity of the operator is not known but planning consultancy Scott Brownrigg has just submitted new plans to change the fine detail of the scheme for the derelict property in Green Park Road, which was once a care home.

The planning consultants say "the hotel operator has specific brand standards and the incorporation of these has resulted in a number of non-material changes to the hotel scheme".

Scott Brownrigg said it could not reveal the name of the Green Park operator.

The planned hotel is one of four within a few hundred yards of each other in that part of the city centre.

Developer Telereal Trillium is still looking for an operator for its proposed 177-room hotel at Kingsmead House in James Street West, while construction work is under way for a 108-room Premier Inn further along that street, replacing an old carpet warehouse which has just been demolished.

Work has also restarted on developing a luxury spa hotel in the old Gainsborough Building in Lower Borough Walls.

Less than a mile away, Travelodge is appealing against the rejection of plans for a 98-room hotel at Brougham Hayes, off Lower Bristol Road.

Bath Independent Guest House Association chairman Colin Potter said his group, which had been vehemently opposed to the Kingsmead House, Green Park House and Premier Inn plans, now conceded there was little it could do to halt such new hotel developments.

He said independent guest houses were now focused on highlighting the differences between them and chain hotels.

"We are concentrating on differentiating ourselves and we accept there's nothing we can do about those that have been given the green light."

Big corporations with their enormous financial fire power will, in the end, rule. They have their place, but they threaten to take over every aspect of life - the food we eat, the bed we sleep in, security etc. Consistency, yes you will get, but I think there is a cost which is difficult to quantify. I know that if I visited Romania, India or Mongolia I would be saddened to have to stay in a Travelodge or eat in a Macdonalds. Life becomes so bland and ultimately uninteresting when you are standing in a street in Bangalore and you have to choose between an Ibis or a Holiday Inn and for food a Giraffe or a Nandos. No! I think ultimately consistency can be very boring and I certainly look for flavour, interest and stimulation. I use independents and all you have to do now to find a good one is simply go on Trip Advisor. Isn't there room for individuality and culture anymore? As far as price goes, the 'chains' in Bath are certainly comparable, if not more expensive, than the independents and also have the two night stay policy. Independents can't fill the demand for beds and these new hotels may well be needed but it ain't gonna be cheap! There is also a danger in believing that all 'chains' are consistently clean and well run. Again, just read some of the reviews.

Personally, I think the photos shown here of "derelict Bath" are a PR masterstroke. If you ignore the obvious constructive negligence they represent, both as individual sites and grouped together with this story

Agree that 'chain' is often incorrectly used to describe something that is of low standard. It's just like the word 'black'. I was showing some younger journalists earlier that the use of that word makes for an emotive piece. For example, I have not heard of a hotel called the 'black house', but there are several 'white houses'...
Totally agree that with 'chain' hotels, you get a better level of consistency rather than 'hit and miss ' standards of guest houses. I tend to use hotels a fair bit and have recently discovered that independent B&Bs can only match price, not quality. Also, bigger hotels are more accessible by public transport, unless you are in a place like Guernsey, where practically every B&B is on or near a bus route...

I'm with DaveF_Walcot on this. Although I'm sure that many of the independents in Bath are excellent, my experience of them (outside of Bath) is very hit and miss. As a frequent user of UK hotels, the level of consistency from international 'brand' hotels is pretty darn high. On a basic pricing structure (excluding late deals), you can generally rely upon a level of facilities/service that is often not delivered by local guest houses/hotels etc. My perception from friends who've stayed in Bath is that it's very variable and expensive in these places, whereas if you stay in a Holiday Inn, for example, you tend to get a very consistent experience across the country. They ('chains') are great for business of one or two days away - ideal for business or social outings (say, to visit a spa, go shopping or watch rugby). Unfortunately, many guest houses insistence on a minimum 2 day booking puts off a lot of casual visitors - and these are visitors who, due to the short duration of their trip will most likely spend their money within the immediate confines of Bath.

Got any figures on this deal roger? I feel a question coming on, as I'm on the Audit Committee."
Afraid not but it's a national rather than a local scam. It was one of those PFI-type deals: the DSS sold all its buildings to Telereal Trillium then leased them back. Once the DSS moved out Telereal was free to sell the building but first got planning permission so as to boost its value.
At a local level, though, you might ask why the DCC refused permission for the hotel next to the Multiplex (subsequently overturned on appeal) then promptly approved this monster.
.

I'm getting a bit peeved by the use of 'chain' (both hotels & shops) as if it's a dirty word. With these I can go to cities throughout the world & know what standard of service I'm going to receive, which compared to the extreme variation in quality I've experienced from 'independents' (No Irish, No Blacks, No dogs) is very useful to know.
Bath's 'independents' aren't so individual. BIGHA are still operating a cartel of price hiking by insisting on minimum two day stay.